10 Reasons the 2019 Honda CR-V Won the AutoWeb Buyer’s Choice Best Utility Vehicle of the Year Award

The Honda CR-V has had an organic lifespan in a way that few vehicles get to experience. Over the course of five generations of production spanning 24 years, this compact crossover vehicle has literally grown up in front of our eyes. What was once a tiny, underpowered "cute" utility vehicle has now become an elegant, efficient crossover SUV that is appropriate for a wide range of buyers. It is consistently at or near the top of the SUV sales charts, year after year, and shows no signs of slowing down.

It's no surprise that the 2019 Honda CR-V won the AutoWeb Buyer’s Choice Best Utility Vehicle of the Year Award, so here are 10 reasons why.

10) The CR-V has been around for a long time — for a good reason.

The automotive world is brutally Darwinian. Survival is reserved for those vehicles that adapt to changing circumstances. Often, those circumstances are out of their control — witness the demise of big American sedans after the oil crisis. Sometimes, circumstances swing in a car’s favor — and that’s exactly what has happened to the Honda CR-V.

When it emerged on the scene, a compact crossover vehicle was an interesting oddity. But Honda kept adapting and refining the CR-V as the world changed, and when tastes turned toward crossovers, the CR-V was ready. It already had an established reputation and customer base, and just built from there. A 2017 makeover launched a fifth-generation CR-V that old and new fans alike have proclaimed the best version yet. It's automotive evolution in motion.

9) The CR-V’s exterior captures the best of Honda design.

The CR-V wears a face that is unmistakably Honda, a close cousin to the Accord and Civic’s visages. The 2019 CR-V has a pleasantly organic physique, an expressive face, and friendly curves. If it were more chiseled, it wouldn’t be as attractive; if it were more rounded, it would verge on cartoonish. But, no — it just works.

Honda doesn’t get nearly enough credit for the high level of fit and finish applied to each vehicle in their lineup. The CR-V holds up to close inspection, with tight, even panel gaps, deep, rich paint, lustrous chrome, and well-sorted details. Its horizontally arrayed headlights are a particular highlight, especially the LED units that are standard on the Touring trim level.

8) The CR-V's interior is smart and attractive.

The CR-V interior is available with leather trim and other premium materials. The design is fresh and new, and manages to integrate technology without getting overwhelmed by it. The instrument panel is a pleasant mix of digital and analog gauges that are easy to interpret at a glance.

Smart storage features in the center console are evidence of a focus on customer needs. Someone obviously asked owners how they use the space, and then set about creating a simple, clever adjustable parcel shelf that makes the center console storage into a multi-function marvel. Little surprises like this are to be found all over the CR-V’s cabin.

7) The CR-V has a very comfortable cabin — including for second-row passengers.

Many compact crossover vehicles take great care of the driver and front passenger while relegating the second-row passengers to second-class status. The CR-V doesn’t make this error of automotive etiquette.

The rear seat gets 39.2 inches of headroom, 40.4 inches of legroom, 55.6 inches of shoulder room, and 49.5 inches of hip room — just inches off of the front row’s accommodations. The Touring trim adds a rear USB charging outlet, the EX and above get a seatback pocket, and all five seating positions get standard head restraints.

6) The CR-V is a connected car with modern infotainment.

Our smartphones have become essential equipment for daily life, and that doesn’t stop when we get in our cars. The CR-V is ready to participate, with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on the EX, EX-L, and Touring, as well as standard Bluetooth hands-free and audio streaming, and USB data and charging ports. A 7-inch touchscreen is standard on the EX, EX-L, and Touring models, providing iPad-like touch, pinch, and swipe operation.

HondaLink, Honda’s connectivity interface, is standard on the EX, EX-L, and Touring, too. The base LX model comes with a 160-watt audio system with four speakers. The EX upgrades that to 180 watts and six speakers. The EX-L gains another pair of speakers, and the Touring comes with a 330-watt premium audio system with nine speakers, including a subwoofer. Navigation is standard on the Touring.

5) The CR-V comes with a choice of two highly efficient four-cylinder engines.

The 2019 CR-V's base LX trim has a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine with direct gasoline injection, four valves per cylinder, and i-VTEC. The naturally aspirated (non-turbo) engine produces 184 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque, and it's rated to achieve 26 mpg in the city, 32 mpg on the highway, and 28 mpg combined with front-wheel drive, and 1 mpg less with all-wheel drive.

The EX, EX-L, and Touring models get a 1.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine with direct gasoline injection, four valves per cylinder, and a turbocharger running at 18.5 psi. This tiny marvel pumps out 190 hp and 179 lb-ft of torque with a flat peak torque curve from 2,000 to 5,000 rpm. The turbo is rated at 28 mpg city/34 mpg highway/30 mpg combined with front-wheel drive, and 1 mpg less with all-wheel drive.

4) The CR-V uses a CVT and is available with all-wheel drive.

Each CR-V comes with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). CVTs are a smart choice for engineers who are seeking to maximize fuel efficiency, as the design uses an arrangement of pulleys and belts to keep the engine’s revs in an ideal range. The downside of a CVT must be managed. The transmission can feel rubbery in certain situations, especially when immediate acceleration is demanded. Droning or motorboating is also a potential problem for some drivers who are sensitive to engine notes. Honda has included active noise cancelation to quell droning issues, and acceleration is unhindered.

Standard front-wheel drive performs well in the CR-V, but all-wheel drive is also offered on all trim levels. Owners who live in wintry climates will appreciate the additional grip and control on slick surfaces.

3) The CR-V can handle a surprising amount of cargo with easy access.

The CR-V is a compact crossover, but don’t tell it that. The little SUV can swallow up to 39.2 cubic feet of luggage behind its second row. Fold down the second row (a 60/40 split is standard), and a cavernous 75.8 cubic feet of space open up.

The CR-V makes it easy to get to that cargo, too. Rear side doors open wide, so reaching into the cabin is convenient and yoga-free. The rear liftgate is available with power operation. Power liftgates come with an additional convenience bonus — hands-free opening. As long as the key fob is present, just a kick under the center of the rear bumper triggers the mechanism, so you can load your purchases into the CR-V without struggling to find your keys.

2) Honda Sensing is standard on all but the base model.

All CR-V trim levels come with a long list of standard passive safety features, from crumple zones to airbags, from LATCH connections to child-proof rear door locks and a multi-angle rearview camera and more. EX, EX-L, and Touring models come with Honda Sensing features like automatic emergency braking, road-departure mitigation, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control with low-speed following, automatic high beams, and blind-spot monitoring with a cross-traffic alert. Additional features like automatic LED headlights and rain-sensing windshield wipers are included on the Touring.

The 2019 Honda CR-V is an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick, and the 2018 CR-V received a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, though 2019 NHTSA ratings for the CR-V are not yet available.

1) The CR-V is competitively priced.

The 2019 Honda CR-V is available in four trim levels: LX (starting at $24,350); EX (starting at $27,250); EX-L (starting at $29,750); and Touring (starting at $32,750). Front-wheel drive is standard on all trim levels. Add all-wheel drive to any trim level for $1,400.